Reports: Strong set to become Texas coach

January 03, 2014|Reuters

The Sports Xchange

Reports: Strong set to become Texas coach

Charlie Strong could be the next coach of the Texas Longhorns, according to reports on Friday night.

Horns 247 and Orangebloods.com reported that Strong accepted an offer to coach the Longhorns. ESPN countered with a report that Strong was not formally offered the job but that he would accept after he had spoken with Louisville athletic director Tom Jurich and university president Jes Ramsey.

Strong would replace Mack Brown, who stepped down on Monday after 16 years as Texas coach following a 30-7 loss to Oregon in the Valero Alamo Bowl.

Strong has a 37-16 career record as a head coach and has guided the Cardinals to two consecutive bowl victories.

UCLA coach Jim Mora and Baylor coach Art Briles, two potential candidates for the Texas head coaching vacancy, said earlier Friday they are not interested.

That left Strong, Vanderbilt's James Franklin and possibly Florida State's Jimbo Fisher among the top contenders to replace Brown.

Texas was believed to have significant interest in Mora, and Texas officials met with Mora's representative to discuss the job, according to multiple reports.

But Mora is staying put.

"It is always flattering when someone is interested in you. But I am committed to being the UCLA coach," Mora said, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Briles said he is not interested in being considered for any other coaching jobs.

He has been linked to the Washington Redskins' head coaching vacancy because of his relationship with quarterback Robert Griffin III. He has also been connected to the head coaching position at the Texas.

However, Briles said he is staying put at Baylor.

"I have no desire to pursue other coaching positions," Briles said in a statement. "As I've said many times, I am both humbled and honored to be the head coach at Baylor University, and believe we have something special going here. I look forward to leading the Bears onto the field next fall at McLane Stadium and defending our Big 12 championship that our players and coaches worked so hard to win this season."

Briles said he did not speak to the Redskins or any other NFL teams about coaching jobs.

It leaves new Texas athletic director Steve Patterson to look elsewhere. He said earlier this week that he wanted Texas' next coach to be in place by Jan. 15, the end of the NCAA's dead period for recruiting.

Patterson interviewed Strong on Tuesday near Louisville, and he interviewed Franklin two weeks ago.

Strong's Louisville team went 12-1, including a 36-9 victory over Miami in the Russell Athletic Bowl.

Vanderbilt is 8-4 under Franklin this season heading into Saturday BBVA Compass Bowl game against Houston. Patterson had expressed interest in Michigan State's Mark Dantonio during the search, according Orangebloods.com